Liu Yang

When Major Liu Yang, China's first woman in space, returned to earth safely after a mission to the Tiangong-1 space station in late June, it reminded all Chinese people of an old saying proclaimed by Mao Zedong six decades ago: "Women hold up half the sky".

China's first woman in space Major Liu Yang sheds a tear as she listens to a recording of the story of how she became an astronaut, while (right) Senior Colonel Liu Wang plays a tune on his harmonica during a tea party.

Despite a year-long effort to weed 'Chinglish' from Beijing's public signs, phrases such as 'Welcome to take Beijing Subway on your next trip' will still be seen in the capital, thanks to their inclusion in a set of standardised English translations for public use.